The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of eccentric
training on the activity of mitochondrial
respiratory chain enzymes,
oxidative stress,
muscle damage, and
inflammation of
skeletal muscle. Eighteen
male mice (CF1) weighing 30-35 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 6) untrained, trained eccentric
running (16°; TER), and trained
running (0°) (TR), and were submitted to an 8-week
training program. TER increased
muscle oxidative capacity (
succinate dehydrogenase and complexes I and II) in a manner
similar to TR, and TER did not decrease
oxidative damage (xylenol and
creatine phosphate) but increased
antioxidant enzyme activity (
superoxide dismutase and
catalase)
similar to TR.
Muscle damage (
creatine kinase) and
inflammation (
myeloperoxidase) were not reduced by TER. In conclusion, we suggest that TER improves mitochondrial function but does not reduce
oxidative stress,
muscle damage, or
inflammation induced by eccentric contractions.